August is finally here, and that means we are just weeks away from the start of the new college football season. NIL has changed the dynamics of the sport, with college football stars making millions before turning professional.
Here’s a list of the top quarterbacks, wide receivers, and defenders who are making a lot of money before Week 1 of the 2025 season.
Highest Paid College Football Athletes Via NIL Deals in 2025
Quarterbacks
1. Arch Manning (Texas Longhorns)
Arch Manning benefited from NIL, making a huge amount of money through deals before being installed as a starter for the Texas Longhorns. He remains the highest-paid college football athlete ahead of the 2025 season, earning an estimated $6.8 million, according to On3.
Arch Manning has the highest NIL valuation in college football.
But he waited two years, took no shortcuts, and only signed one deal.
Now that he’s the starter, he’s locking in with RedBull, Uber, Vuori, and Panini… before the season.
He’s doing NIL the right way. Football… pic.twitter.com/tdEZSOTpKM
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) July 3, 2025
Several companies have inked NIL deals with the 21-year-old quarterback, including Panini America, EA Sports, Red Bull, Uber, Vuori, and Raising Cane’s. Expect Manning to attract more interest, with head coach Steve Sarkisian giving him the keys to Texas’ offense this coming season.
2. Carson Beck (Miami Hurricanes)
Carson Beck is ranked second among college football quarterbacks, earning an estimated $4.3 million ahead of the 2025 season. He played for the Georgia Bulldogs before joining the Miami Hurricanes.
Beck considered joining the NFL before deciding that staying in the NCAA for one more season would be a better financial option. He secured deals with companies such as Zero FG Energy, The Players’ Lounge, Leaf Trading Cards, Associated Credit Union, EA Sports, Airstar Charter, Beats by Dre, Powerade, The Dairy Alliance, Chipotle, and Morgan & Morgan.
Wide Receivers
1. Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State Buckeyes)
Jeremiah Smith took the college football world by storm last season when he helped the Ohio State Buckeyes win the national championship against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He made waves in his freshman year, catching 71 passes for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Companies flocked to Smith, who earned an estimated $4.2 million through NIL deals. He landed contracts with several deal partners, including Adidas, Nintendo, Red Bull, Lululemon, Battle Sports, American Eagle Outfitters, and Ricart Automotive.
2. Ryan Williams (Alabama Crimson Tide)
Ryan Williams also rose to prominence last season, catching 48 passes for 865 yards and eight touchdowns in his first year with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He benefited financially as well, earning an estimated $2.7 million through his NIL deals.
Williams signed contracts with various companies, including EA Sports, Nike, Uber Eats, Hollister, and Sally Hansen. He and Jeremiah Smith were chosen as cover athletes for EA Sports College Football 26.
Defenders
1. Caleb Downs (Ohio State Buckeyes)
Caleb Downs is ranked first among defenders when it comes to NIL money, earning an estimated $2.4 million ahead of the 2025 season. The junior safety’s stock rose in the previous campaign when he helped the Ohio State Buckeyes capture their first national title since 2014.
Downs, who recorded 81 tackles and two interceptions in 2024, secured NIL deals with Panini America, Beats by Dre, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, American Eagle Outfitters, and EA Sports.
2. Dylan Stewart (South Carolina Gamecocks)
Edge rusher Dylan Stewart has also benefited from NIL money, earning an estimated $1.8 million ahead of the 2025 campaign. He received several accolades during his first season with the South Carolina Gamecocks, earning Freshman All-SEC and unanimous Freshman All-American selections. He was also named a finalist for the 2024 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
Stewart made 13 appearances for South Carolina last season, recording 23 tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He was ranked third among all FBS freshmen in sacks.
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